Armed men entered an hacienda compound Saturday night in Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City, Negros Occidental, shot and killed a farm worker, robbed its overseer at gunpoint, and took his daughter hostage while withdrawing from the place, the police said yesterday.

Investigations of the Silay police showed that the suspects, estimated at eight and armed with hand guns, proceeded to the house of Noel Espada, overseer of Hacienda San Diego Dos, owned by Joseph Jison.

Supt. Rosauro Francisco, Silay police chief, yesterday said the suspects also fired at farm workers who tried to help Espada, killing Rodolfo Sobritodo, 46, and injuring Erick Cordero, 37.

Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano, Vice Mayor Mark Golez and 24 others have posted bail for a criminal case filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for alleged violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in the implementation of an P18 million computerization project.

They all posted bail of P30,000 each before Silay City Regional Trial Court executive judge Felipe Banzon.

On Friday, Montelibano, Jose Raymundo Locsin, Michael Maravilla, Mario Torres, Ramon Jison, Warlito Go, Joedith Gallego, April Grace de los Reyes, Ignacio Salmingo, Elsie Jimenea, Emmanuel Arsenal, Kara Aimee Quevenco, Pepito Hechanova Jr., Alma de la Cruz, Ricardo Ledesma Jr., Sonia Cordero, Rene Roy Pahilanga, Giovanni Guzon, Jesus Oppus, Arnie Trajera, Jose Genaro Estrañero, Macarse Tionko, Armin Paredes, Alore Golez and Vilma Dooma posted a property bond in the amount of P750,000 .

The New People’s Army-South West Front yesterday claimed responsibility for the raid and destruction of properties of the Philex Gold Mining Corp. in Brgy. Nabulao, Sipalay City.

The rebel group said they did it because of damages the company allegedly created against the lives, livelihood, health and environment of the people.

In a statement they issued, Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of the Armando Sumayang Command, accused Philex of dumping toxic wastes in Mantuboy Creek, Bacuyangan and Sipalay River, which he claimed, resulted in fishkill in the shorelines of Sipalay, and loss of water source for irrigation to peasants and farmers.